Superstar Assistant [GL] - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

In the video, the children obediently called her “Sister,” and a satisfied Li Ziyu rewarded each of them with a serving of lunch. She also gave them each a “Five-Colored Steamed Bun” as a prize for the vegetable-tearing contest, praising them for a job well done.

However, throughout the entire meal, aside from the buns—which looked lovely thanks to the natural fruit and vegetable juices—the rest of the colors were distinctly unappetizing. Even the variety show’s aesthetic filters couldn’t save them.

The little girl stared at her plate and finally asked bluntly, “Sister, why is our rice black?”

Actually, the kids’ Yangzhou Fried Rice wasn’t quite “pitch black,” but the overall color had somehow turned a strange, dark hue.

Li Ziyu replied with a straight face, “Because this is the color of true deliciousness. Try it; this fried rice is definitely tastier than the buns.”

The little girl was hesitant, so she looked at the two older boys. They grabbed their spoons and took a bite. After two chews, they scrambled to tell her, “This really is the best taste ever!”

Only then did the girl begin to eat. She was instantly stunned by the deliciousness of the slightly blackened rice and started shoveling it into her mouth. Finally, after taking a bite of the beautiful buns, she remarked, “The buns really aren’t as good as the black fried rice!”

Li Ziyu nodded. “Exactly. So you must remember: beautiful things aren’t necessarily good. We must focus on inner beauty.”

What should have been a simple meal was turned into a bowl of “chicken soup for the soul” forced upon the audience by Li Ziyu.

“This isn’t a script, is it? Tell me kids can’t act! Those buns looked way tastier than the rice!” “Did the person above not watch closely? Those buns had nothing in them but vegetable juice. How good could they be? They probably just tasted like raw greens!” “Why am I salivating over a bowl of dark, messy fried rice? Is there something wrong with my aesthetics? Help!”

Aside from those who already knew her, most of the show’s audience wasn’t familiar with Li Ziyu, yet they found themselves instantly charmed.

“Am I the only one who thinks her parenting style is great? She treats them as equals, not just kids to be coddled. That’s great for a child’s growth!” “This guest is beautiful, but her cooking… what on earth is that! Can you even eat it? Kids, why are you eating it so happily? What’s so good about ‘Dark Cuisine’!”

Following this, Li Ziyu’s fans arrived on the scene to promote her past variety shows. “Our Ziyu is the Queen of the Dark Cuisine world! She’s famous for food that tastes great but looks terrible. Check out these videos!”

…

After the kids napped, they spent the afternoon playing in the villa courtyard. During their game, the ball got stuck high up in a tree. The two boys sent the girl to get Li Ziyu. She walked over, looked at the ball, and squatted down. “The ball is too high even for me. What should we do?”

The three children frowned, trying to brainstorm. The girl raised her hand first. “Ziyu-姐姐, you could hold me up so I can reach it. But… are you strong enough to lift me?”

Li Ziyu raised an eyebrow with a confident smirk. “Lift you? I could lift all three of you at once.”

The children’s faces lit up with excitement. All three at once? That sounded like so much fun!

Li Ziyu told them to stand in a row. She approached them, scooped them all up in her arms, and stood up straight. Standing at 170cm, she was tall enough that once she lifted them, the kids easily batted the ball down from the tree.

When she set them down, the two boys were still buzzing with excitement. “Ziyu-姐姐, why are you so strong?!”

A gentle smile touched her lips. “Because I’ve practiced my arm strength.”

When the audience saw that smile, the comment section doubled in speed. “Oh my god! Ziyu can smile that gently? I think I’m in love! P.S. I’m a girl!” “So handsome! Great body, great strength… she really is the #1 Female Emperor Alpha of the industry!” “Did anyone else think of the ‘Iron-Armed Li Ziyu’ meme?”

Li Ziyu’s episode set a new ratings record. Even two days after the broadcast, the buzz didn’t die down. Netizens began a viral challenge trying to replicate her blackened fried rice, creating a massive trending topic on Weibo.

…

At a private hospital in City B, Li Ziyu and Zhou Tiantian were waiting for a doctor. Li Ziyu showed her phone to Tiantian. “Baby, look at these people. They’re all trying to copy my cooking, but none of them can get it right. Aren’t I impressive?”

Tiantian didn’t see what was so “impressive” about it and glared at her. “Don’t call me that!”

Li Ziyu looked at her. “Then what should I call you? Darling? Sweetheart?”

“No!” Tiantian whispered. “You used to call me Tiantian.”

Li Ziyu curled her lip. “But everyone calls you Tiantian. I, of course, have to be special.”

Tiantian continued to look annoyed, but Ziyu smirked. “What? Am I not special to you?”

Tiantian couldn’t bring herself to say she wasn’t. To her, Li Ziyu truly was a special existence.

“Since I’m special,” Ziyu said triumphantly, “what’s wrong with me calling you ‘Baby’?”

Tiantian looked worried. “But if others hear you, they’ll misunderstand. Then the fans will find out, and it could affect your career.”

Li Ziyu replied nonchalantly, “I don’t care. I’m relying on ‘traffic’ (popularity) now, but I might not have to later. Besides, if I can’t stay in the industry, I can always inherit my father’s company. I can guarantee your future won’t be worse than it is now, so what is there to worry about?”

Tiantian didn’t see it that way. She wasn’t just working for a salary anymore; she valued her own growth. She wanted to become a person who could provide her own sense of security.

Seeing Tiantian’s expression shift, Ziyu immediately softened. “Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you. I won’t call you ‘Baby’ when outsiders are around. I’ll watch my words, okay?”

Tiantian finally nodded. Li Ziyu’s eyes flashed with doting affection. “I’ll listen to my ‘Baby’ in everything.”

To break the awkwardness, Tiantian asked, “Where are you going?”

Li Ziyu was about to say the restroom, but she paused and smirked. “Into your heart.”

Tiantian had never heard such a “cheesy” pickup line before. Flustered and not knowing how to react, she stood up abruptly. “I’m going to see if the doctor is here yet.”

Li Ziyu followed closely. “I’m coming with you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t feel easy leaving you alone,” Ziyu said, her lips curving into a smile. Tiantian’s face turned red yet again.

…

That night, after the check-up, they flew back to Hengdian. The first-class cabin was empty except for them. As Ziyu tucked a blanket around Tiantian’s legs, she asked, “Tiantian, how are we going to take care of the baby after it’s born?”

This was a problem Tiantian had been agonizing over. Their work meant they couldn’t stay in one place for long.

“How about we both stay home for a while until the baby is older?” Ziyu suggested. She was willing to give up her current momentum for the child.

But Tiantian disagreed. In her previous life, she had failed to protect her child. In this life, she knew that only by having power—including financial power—could she protect those she cared about. She needed her career.

Suddenly, Tiantian had an idea. “What if I ask my mom to come and help us?”

She had always wanted her mother to leave her stepfather and that toxic home. She wanted to give Han Ping the push she needed to start over.

Li Ziyu’s eyes lit up. “My mother-in-law is coming to help with the baby? Of course, she’s more than welcome!”

Zhou Tiantian: “…Mother-in-law?!”